Steam Deck: Multiply your library with Heroic in 5 easy steps 💥💻

Steam Deck: Multiply your library with Heroic in 5 easy steps 💥💻

Valve's Steam Deck revolutionized the world of portable gaming 🎮 when it was released. Although many competitors have emerged since, no one can deny that the Steam Deck remains the undisputed benchmark for portable PC gaming 💻. Think you can only play Steam games? Wrong! 🚀

You can enjoy much more than just Steam games on your Steam Deck, but you'll need to put in a little effort. With Heroic Games Launcher —which I used in a recent Linux gaming project— You can access your GoG, Amazon, and Epic Games libraries. Remember those free games we used to save and barely play? Now you can carry them all while commuting, relaxing in bed, or playing with friends. 😊

How to install the Heroic Games Launcher on your Steam Deck

My goal with this project is to integrate the Heroic Games Launcher into my Steam library so I can enjoy all my games comfortably from my couch.

Step 1: Switch to desktop mode

Press the Steam button and select “Switch to Desktop” from the power menu.

Step 2: Open Discover and search for Heroic

On desktop, click the Discover icon (fourth option from the left). This is the app store for managing software on Steam Deck.

Then, search for “Heroic.”

Step 3: Install Heroic Games Launcher

Select Heroic Games Launcher and click the install icon. The download will take a few minutes.

Next, close Discover and open Heroic from the main menu under Games.

Step 4: Initial setup and adding libraries

Close any Heroic update or note pop-ups.

Follow the instructions to connect your first game account. I chose Epic Games because of my love for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's RevengeYou can add other stores by selecting the "Stores" link in the Heroic sidebar.

Step 5: Installing a game

Choose a game you want to install.

Expand the “Show Wine Configuration” option and select “Proton Experimental”. This version is Proton's most advanced, and it may have some bugs, but generally works very well. 🚀

Install the game. The time depends on the title: Shredder's Revenge takes seconds, but Cyberpunk 2077 on GoG took about 40 minutes.

Now enjoy playing! 🎉

Integrating Heroic Games Launcher into the Steam Library

Heroic is already installed and running in desktop mode, but we can integrate it into the main Steam interface for more convenient access.

Step 1: Add Heroic to Steam

From desktop mode, in Steam, go to the main menu, then Games and right-click on Heroic Games Launcher.

Select “Add to Steam.” Heroic will now be available in your library.

Customize the Heroic Games Launcher icon on Steam with SteamGridDB

But we can still improve the appearance. Thanks to the magic of SteamGridDB You can assign custom cover art to make Heroic look like a real game in your library.

Step 1: Search and download art on SteamGridDB

Open a web browser and go to SteamGridDB. It's a platform with free images to decorate your Steam library.

Step 2: Download and name the image

Select the cover you like best and click the download icon.

Save the image to your Steam Deck's downloads folder and give it a name that's easy to identify.

Step 3: Assign Custom Art on Steam

Open Steam from your desktop to access the traditional, more flexible version.

Right-click on the Heroic Games Launcher and choose “Assign Custom Art.”

Find and select the downloaded image to display it as official art on Steam.

Step 4: Customize more images (optional)

Repeat the above steps to assign the Heroic Games Launcher page background and logo. Although optional, this extra touch greatly enhances the visual experience.

Step 5: Return to game mode

Double-click the “Return to Game Mode” icon to return to the classic Steam interface.

Done! Now, every time you turn on your Steam Deck, the Heroic Games Launcher will be just a click away, giving you an even larger game library to enjoy. What are you waiting for? 🚀💥

In conclusion, the Steam Deck Not only is it a powerful portable console to play your favorite Steam titles, but thanks to tools like Heroic Games Launcher You can expand your library by including games from GoG, Epic Games, and more. 🎉

With just a few easy steps—from installation to integration and customization within Steam—you'll transform your Steam Deck into a multifaceted and super-convenient gaming hub. 🕹️✨

This way, you can make the most of those forgotten games and enjoy them wherever you want, whenever you want. Dare to take the plunge and expand your gaming experience with Heroic on your Steam Deck! 🚀🎮💻